Apple’s new iPad mini is now available at Walmart stores around the country. Pricing remains the same as the direct price: $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, $429 for the 32GB, and $529 for 64GB of internal flash storage.

Walmart.com also has many of the new iPad mini models available, though like the retail stores, only Wi-Fi models are being sold at present. Some configurations are sold-out online, but you can also use the online tool to find out whether your local location has the model you want in stock.

After trying several portable iPhone speaker systems over the years, I pretty much gave up finding one ideal for my needs. I still tested portable speakers now and again, of course – for professional reasons – but all left me wanting. The best I’ve found was the Altec Lansing iMT702, and it was released over three years ago. Since then it’s been disappointment after disappointment.

So when word came that iHome, one of my favorite iOS speaker companies, was releasing a sleek new portable speaker, the iD55, I was encouraged. Surely this reasonably priced system would perform better than its current, lousy competitors. iHome had never really let me down before.

No such luck.

While well designed and constructed, its poor performance and lack of obvious conveniences left me, once again, looking for a wall outlet.

We’re always pleased when iHome releases new products, and today’s annoucement is no exception.

The new iHome iD55 is a portable speaker with a curved design and a universal dock for iPhone, iPad and Dock Connector iPods. The unit runs either on AC power via a wall outlet, or with 4 AA batteries. Includes SRS TruBass circuitry and 2 Reson8 speaker chambers. MSRP is $79.

According to iHome, the iD55 will offer 6-8 hours battery-powered playback at medium volume. We hope to get one in for review soon to put it to the test.

Yesterday when Chrome hit the iOS App Store, I allowed myself a moment of geek excitement; Chrome is my preferred browser on the PC, so I was looking forward seeing that experience translate to the iPad.

Meh.

It’s nice, and has a familiar look and feel, but under the hood – as suspected – Apple’s app restrictions keep the browser from being much more than Safari with a Google facelift.

As confirmed by John Herrman on Buzzfeed, Apple hasn’t lifted its software restrictions, so Chrome for iOS is hobbled and not even really Chrome at all. The result is an experience that shares little with the real Chrome browser, and one actually slower than Safari on the iPad.

One good thing about the browser is that it allows syncing your content with Chrome on your Mac or PC. Actually… that’s about the only good thing.